Link Road FAQ
Q: Will the new link road be completed before work starts on improvements to reduce traffic on Blueschool Street/Newmarket Street, or will the city face yet further traffic chaos?
A: Building the new link road is the first step, and the re-configuration of Blueschool Street/Newmarket Street will not start in earnest until this is completed, although we believe there are some minor improvements which could be put in place now. Every effort will be made to minimise the impact on traffic flow during the redevelopment work through robust traffic management measures, but it must be recognised that this project does not set out to cure Hereford's inherent traffic problems. There are Herefordshire Council plans for an outer distributor road and park and ride schemes which will also help.
Q: In view of Hereford's traffic congestion, what other plans do you have to ease the problems?
A: Solving Hereford's traffic problems is not a specific role for ESG, but we recognise, as does Herefordshire Council, that the issue must be tackled and solutions found. We are working very closely with the highway authorities (HC and HA) to reduce the impact of the ESG scheme on the existing road network, on the one hand, and help identify mitigation measures elsewhere within the Hereford area, on the other.
Throughout the whole 100 acre redevelopment site, we have planned cycle and pedestrian routes linking directly to the city centre and to the railway station. After listening to public comments on the Masterplan, ESG is now planning to create an innovative and sustainable Transport Hub alongside the railway station as a centre for all forms of public transport, from buses, taxis to hire cars and bicycles.
Q: Surely all this new development will simply create more congestion?
A: The development is not expected to create or add any more to Hereford’s congestion; the city is already congested and there has been no growth in traffic because of that for over 5 years. The single river crossing, Greyfriars Bridge, and the Edgar Street roundabout are the predominant problem areas.
From all the extensive traffic modelling undertaken, which included that on the most recent joint Highways Agency and Herefordshire Council’ LDF Multi-model model, the ESG development impact at peak rush hours, am and pm, is broadly neutral. It is a well established fact that shoppers do not contribute at those times, so the retail development contribution is negligible. Concerning commuters from the new Urban Village, if employed locally it is expected that they will use foot, cycle or electric vehicle, or buses at the most. If employed at distance rail is on their door step, or if commuting is by car their movements will be against the current and predominant rush-hour flow directions, both am and pm.
We have also looked at mitigation measures that reduce congestion at known locations. We are reducing the need to circumnavigate the Edgar Street roundabout by about 100 vehicles per hour by allowing right-hand turns out of Maylord Orchard and hopefully the Wall Street exit from the Tesco car park. Additionally we are proposing to allow northwards turn from Blueschool Street (west-bound) into Widemarsh Street (without) for direct access to the Garrick multi-storey car park.